Oyster-opening machine.



o. D. NEWMAN. OYSTER OPENING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 26, 1912,

1,084,814. Patented .12.11.20, 1914.

.SWW C. D. A/'ewrrzan/ elttmmu coLUMmA PLANoGPAr-n co..wAsM|N rroN. u. C

C. D. NEWMAN.

OYSTER OPENING MACHINE.

APPLIDATION FILED Nov. ze, w12.

Patented Jan. 20, 1914.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

C. D. NEWMAN.

OYSTER OPENING MACHINE.

APPLICATION IILBD Nov. 26, 1912.

1 ,084,81 4. Patented Jan. 20, 1914.

6 SHEETS-SEEET 3.

Hummm um) Q fnvemloz N C/Veurmazv @Lui/tamano mOi/$1943 C. D. NEWMAN.

'oYsTBR OPENING MACHINE.

A1 1 0u 1 0, 2 n... a Td d 8 t n e .fb na P om A 4. 11 8 AM 8 0 6 SEBETB-SHEET 4.

. @LVM/nenne )4. Si. AM

@ttor/wm;

CoLuMmA ILANOGRAPM CO.. WASHANQTUN. D. C4

C. D. NEWMAN.

OYSTEB. OPENING MACHINE.

APPLIUATION FILED Nov.26,191z.

Patented Ja11.20, 1914.

6 SHEETS-'SHEET 5.

C/Vu/ 111 a 11/ @Him/nef,

C. D. NEWMAN.

OYSTER OPENING MAGHINE.

APPLICATION FILED Nov. ze. 1912.

Patented Jan. 20, 1914.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 8.

@Hf l L JJ. SJW

@ttor/14W COLUMBIA PLANoouAPn cc..w^smNGTON. D, C.

FFCE.

CLARENCE D. NEWMAN, 0F NEWPORT NEWS, VIRGINIA.

OYSTER-OPENING MACHINE.

Loenen.

Application -filed. November 26, 1912.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 20, 19141..

Serial No. 733,670.

T0 all whom it may concern Be it known that I, CLARENCE D. NEWMAN, citizen of the United States, residing at Newport News, in the county of lVarwick and State of Virginia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Oyster'- Opening Machines, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in oyster opening machines, and has for it-s object to provide a comparatively simple machine of this character which will operate in a quick and positive manner to open the shells and remove the oysters therefrom.

A further object of the invention is to provide an oyster opening machine which is continuous and automatic in its action, which will operate effectively upon all of the various sizes and grades of oysters, and which will enable large quantities of oysters to be quickly opened at a minimum cost and with a minimum expenditure of labor.

lVith these and other objects in view, the invention consists in certain combinations and arrangements of the parts as will more fully appear as the description proceeds, the novel features thereofl being pointed out in the appended claims.

For a full understanding of the invention, reference is to be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view through an oyster opening machine constructed in accordance with the invention. Fig. 2 is a top plan View of the oyster opening machine, portions being broken away and shown in section. Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail view of one of the oyster clamps or carriages. Fig. el is an enlarged plan view of one of the oyster' clamps. Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail sectional view of one of the drilling, punching, and cutting mechanisms. Fig. 6 is an enlarged sectional View of one of the oyster clamps. Fig. 7 is a detail view showing the initial operation of drilling holes in opposite sides of the oyster'. Fig. S is a similar View showing the second operation in which the punches are inserted through the previously formed openings in the oyster shell for the purpose of forcibly opening the shell, the lower edge of the shell being brought into an initial engagement with the wedge member. Fig. 9 is a similar view .showing the third step of severing the heart of the oyster from the shell by means of the knives. Fig. l() is an enlarged detail view showing the knife mechanism as brought into an initial engagement with the oyster shell before the knives themselves have been thrown out into operative position. Fig. 11 is a diagramnuitic view of the cam track, showing the three elevations thereof. Fig. 12 is an enlarged detail view of one of the brackets which are employed for supporting the oyster clamps. Figs. 13 and 14- are detail views showing a modification of the invention. Fig. l5 is a transverse sectional View on the line l5 15 of Fig. lll, and Figs. 16 and 17 are detail views showing a still further modification of the invention.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and indicated in all the views of the drawings by the same reference characters.

Specifically describing the present embodiment of the invention, the numeral l designates the main f'ame upon which the mechanism `is mounted, the said frame beine' shown in the present instance as supporte(- and held in an elevated position by means of the legs or standards Q. Rigidly mounted upon the fame .l is the bed plate 8 which is substantially circular in shape, the said bed plate being formed with a central opening through which a vertically disposed pivot post et projects. This pivot post is concentric with the circular bed plate 3 and is rigidly supported in position, the lower end thereof being reduced at il and extended through the main frame 1 where it is capped by a clamping nut A bevel gear wheel (i is loosely mounted upon the base of the pivot post 4l: and meshes Awith a small bevel gear 7 upon a horizontal drive shaft 8 which is journalcd in suitable bearings 9 upon the main frame 1, the outer end of the drive shaft projecting beyond the main frame and having the drive pulley 10 applied thereto.

Loosely mounted upon the pivot post L over the gear Wheel (S is a sleeve ll, the lower end of the said sleeve having a clutch conncction with the gear wheel, as ilnlicated at 12, so as to normally be driven thereby. Rigid with this sleeve l1. and concentric therewith is a revolving plate 12) which projects over and is arranged substantially parallel to the bed plate 8, the central portion of the said revolving plate preferably having a cup shaped formation as indicated at 13a.

Mounted upon opposite sides of the revolving plate 13 and pendent therefrom are g the oyster clamps A, the said oyster clamps being identical in construction so that a description of one of the clamps will suffice for both of them. Each of the clamps, as shown more clearly in F ig. 4, comprises a pair of jaws 14. which are mounted so as to be moved longitudinally toward and away from each other and to also be susceptible of a tilting or pivotal. movement to admit of the jaws accommodating themselves to the oyster when the two halves of the shell are wedged apart. The inner and opposed faces of the jaws are formed with concave faces 14a to correspond in a general manner to the oyster, and projecting downwardly from these concave faces 14a are the spring fingers 15 which serve to positively grip the oyster. The two jaws 14 of each clamp A are carried by an arm or bracket 1G which projects from the cup shaped central portion 13a of the revolving plate 13. The inner end of the bracket 16 is extended upwardly and secured to the vertical side of the plate 13 by means of a suitable fastening member or bolt 17, while the opposite end of the bracket is formed with a cross head 18, the two ends of the cross head carrying the downwardlj7 projecting bifurcations 19. The aws 14 are provided upon opposite sides thereof with the upwardly extending pivot flanges 20 which are received within the bifurcations 19 and formed with longitudinally disposed and slightly curved slots 21 which receive the pivot pins 22 connecting the arms of the said bifurcations. The provision of the longitudinal slots 21 for receiving the pins 22 admits of the said aws 14 being drawn apart when dropping an oyster between the jaws, and it will also be obvious that the jaws may have a tilting or pivotal motion for the purpose of swinging the lower ends of the spring fingers 15 apart when the shell of the oyster is opened by the entrance of the wedge. The two jaws 14 are normally drawn to-ward each other so as to tightly grip the oyster by means of the springs 23, one of the said springs being arranged upon each side of the clamp and the said springs connecting downwardly projecting arms 24 upon the jaws. The outer ends of the jaws 14 are provided with the rollers 25 and also with the downwardly projecting rounded heads 2G, the said rollers 25 being adapted to engage cams 27 to pull the jaws apart and open the same against the action of the springs 23, while the heads 26 are adapted to engage cams 28 to produce the desired tilting or pivotal motion of the jaws as the oyster is opened.

The two jaws 14 of each of the clamps A are provided with clearance openings 29 for the reception of vertically acting plungers 30 which have the upper ends thereof slidably mounted within tubular casings 31 which are pendent from the revolving plate 13 (see Fig. The upper ends of the plungers 30 are reduced at 30a, the said reduced portions thereof being surrounded by the coil springs 32 which are interposed between the shoulders 33 at the upper ends of the tubular casings 31 and the shoulders 34 y at the base of the reduced upper ends 30a of the plungers 30. These coil springs 32 normally tend to force the plungers 30 downwardly so as to hold the rollers 35 at the lower' ends thereof in a yielding engagement with the cam tracks 36, the said plungers iaving a vertical up and down movement as the plate 13 and oyster clamps revolve about the pivot post 4.

A vertical shaft 37 is ournaled in each of the plungers 30 and projects upwardly through the revolving plate 13 where it has a feat-her and spline connection with the pulleys or wheels 38. The lower end of each of the vertical shafts 37 is provided with a bevel gear 39 which meshes with a bevel gear 40, the said bevel gearl 40 being rigid with a pinion 41 which has a featherand spline connection with the horizontally disposed knife shaft 42. Arranged below the knife shaft 42 is the punch 43 and the drill shaft 44, the said knife shaft, punch,

and drill shaft being all mounted for longitudinal movement within bearing sleeves 45 which project laterally from the lower end of the plunger 30. A pinion 46 which meshes with the pinion 41 of the knife shaft 42 is loose upon the punch 43, the said pinion also meshing with a pinion 47 which ias a feather and spline connection with the drill shaft 44. It will be obvious that when the vertical shaft 37 is driven a rotary movement will be imparted both to the knife carrying shaft 42 and the drill shaft 44.

There are two of the' vertical shafts 37 for each of the oyster clamps A, the upper ends of the said vertical shafts having a feather and spline connection with pulleys 38 which are arranged over the revolving plate 13, as has been previously explained. These pulleys are engaged by an endless belt 48 which passes around a series of idlersI 49 so as to avoid the feed opening 50 which is arranged in the plate 13 over the clamp A. The belt 48 also passes around a drive pulley 51 which is loosely mounted upon the upper end c-f the central pivot post 4, one of the said drive pulleys 51 being provided for each of the oyster clamps A, and the said drive pulleys being rigid with a smaller pulley 52 which receives power from a pulley 53 upon the main drive shaft 8 through the medium of a belt 54 which passes over suitable guide wheels or idlers It will thus be obvious that the vertical shafts 37 are given a continuous and rapid rotary motion as the plate 13 is revolved or rotated over the bed plate 3.

The oysters are designed to be manually ted to the machine by dropping them through the' feed openings 50 into the clamps A. At the feeding position of the clamps A, the rollers 25 are in engagement with the ams 27 so that the jaws 14 are pulled apart and held in an open position against the action of the springs s3. The oyster is dropped through the feed opening 50 with the hinged end of the shell extending upwardly, a series of guide members such as the wires 5G which extend downwardly from the edges of the feed opening 5() being provided for guiding the oyster from the feed opening between the jaws of the oyster clamp. The oyster will drop by force' of gravity into engagement with the bed plate 3 and will be carried by the clamp as the plate 13 revolves. As soon as the movement of the oyster clamp A carries the rollers 25 away from 'the cams 27, the jaws 1.4 will be released so as to be brought together by the springs 23 and caused to tightly clam p the oyster. The heads 57 will next engage cams 5S and coperate therewith to move the drill shafts 44 inwardly so as to bring' the drills 59 into engagement with opposite sides of the oyster. These drills have a very rapid rotary movement and will quickly penetrate the shells so as to produce openings therein, and by reference to F ig. it will be observed that the drills are not in alinement with each other, the outer drill being at a slightly higher elevation than the inner drill. The two openings which are formed in opposite sides of the oyster shell are accordingly offset from each other, this being necessary for reasons which will hereinafter appear.

The drills 59 are carried by heads 60 which have a feather and spline connection 6l with the ends of the drill shafts 44 and are retained against longitudinal displacement from the ends of the said drill shafts by means of the screws 62, as indicated more clearly in Fig. 5. The inner ends of the heads 60 are engaged by the springs o3 which are interposed between the same and collars 64 pinned upon the drill shafts. It will thus loe obvious that as soon as the drill engages the oyster, the continued longitudinal movement of the drill shaft 44 caused by the cam 58 will merely tend to compress the spring 62 so as to increase the pressure with which the drill head is held against the oyster. It will also be obvious that since the two drills operate simultaneously against opposite sides of the oyster the pressure against the oyster will be balanced and there will be no tendency to displace the oyster or twist the same around within the clamp. Vhile the drills 59 are in operation, the

rollers at the lower ends of the plungers 30 will be traveling upon the highest portions 36 of the cam tracks 3G so as to retain the plungers 3() :in an elevated position. As soon as the revolving motion of the plate 1? moves the o ysler clamp i* beyond the drill cams 58, the springs (S5 which surround the drill shafts and are ii'xterposed between the heads G() thereof and the plungers 3() will operate to retract the drill shafts and move the drills into an inoperative position. After the drills have thus been thrown into an inoperative position, the rollers 35 at the lower ends oil the plungers 30 are brought into engagement with the next lower or intermediate level 36" of `the cam tracks 3G, thereby permitting the plungers 30 to be forced downwardly by the springs 32 so as to bring the punches 43 into registry with the openings previously drilled in opposite sides of the oyster. The rollers 66 at the outer ends of the punches 43 then engage the punch cams G7 so as to force the punches inwardly and cause them to pass through the openings in the oyster shell, penetrate the oyster, and finally engage opposite sides of the shell upon the interior thereof. The continued inward movement of the punches will now serve to force the two halves of the oyster shell apart and the move-ment of the plate 13 brings the lower edges of the shell into engagement with the wedge GS which projects upwardly from thc bed plate 3. As soon as the oyster clamp A. has been moved beyond the punch cams (ST, the punches 43 will be retracted by means of the coil springs (59 which surround the same and are interposed between the heads at the outer ends of the punches and the plungers 3'0. The rollers 35 at the lower ends of the said plungers then reach the lowest level 36 of the cam tracks 3G so as to permit a second drop of the plungers 30 and bring the knife shafts 42 into alinement with the openings previously drilled in the oyster shell. The wedge 68 retains the shell in an open position after the punches 43 have been retracted and serves to complete the opening of the oyster as the said oyster is forced upon the wedge by the movement of the oyster clamp. 'lhe knife carrying shafts 42 upon opposite sides of the oyster clamp il are operated successively. As soon as the plungers 30 are lowered by the passage of the rollers from the intermediate levels 3Gb of the cam tracks to the lower levels 36 thereof, the head 70 of the outer knife shaft 42 engages the knife cam 71a so as to force the said shaft inwardly. The inner end of the knife shaft 42 is provided with a nipple T2 which is loose thereon and is adapted to enter the opening of the oyster shell, the said nipple being formed with a shoulder 72'l which engages tho outer face of the shell to arrest the movement oit the nipple after it has been firmly seated in the opening. A spring 73 is interposed between the nipple 72 and a collar 74 which is pinned or rigidly connected to the knife shaft 42. The inner eX- tremity of the knife shaft is slightly enlarged at 42a to prevent the nipple 7 2E1 from slipping over the same, and it will be obvious that after the nipple has been firmly seated in the opening of the oyster shell, a continued inward movement of the knife shaft 42 will compress the .spring 73 so as to hold the nipple yieldingly in position.

The knives 75, shown more clearly in-Fig. 10 are formedfrom resilient strips of metal which are normally housed Within a slot 7 (i in the knifeshaft 42. The bases of the knives 7 5 are suitably secured to the shaft 42 in some suitable manner as by means of the screws 77, and while the knives have a tendency to curl or roll up so as to project laterally from the shaft 42, they are normally held under tension within the slot 7 6 by means of the nipple 72, the sharpened end portions 7 5a of the knives being then positioned at the end of the nipple. After the nipple has been seated in the opening of the oyster shell a continuous inward movement of the knife shaft 42 will cause the same to slide inwardly through the nipple, carrying the knives 7 therewith. The ends of the knives which project beyond the nipple into the oyster will then curl outwardly, as indicated by Fig. 9, and travel along the inner' enamel face of the oyster shell. The rapid rotary movement of the shaft and knives will cause the knives to act in an effective manner to sever or disengage the muscle of the oyster from the shells. After the knives 7 5 of one of the knife shafts 42 have thus been brought into operation, in the present instance the knives of the shaft 42 on the outer side of the oyster clamp, the movement of the plate 13 carries the oyster clamp away from the knife cam 71a toward the opposite knife cam 711. As soon as the head of the outer knife shaft 42 is disengaged from the cam 71a, the spring 78 which is interposed between the head of the knife shaft and the plunger 30 retracts the knife shaft so as to draw the knives 75 within the nipple 72 and move the nipple away from the oyster. rllhe knife shaft 42 on the o-pposite side of the oyster clamp is then brought into engagement with thelmife cam 71D so as to operate the knives on the opposite side of the oyster, the manner of operation being identical with that previously described. It is not feasible to operate the two knives at the same time, since there would be a strong probability that one set of knives would engage the opposite set of knives and produce breakage. At the same time that the oyster clamp A is brought opposite the second knife lcam 71h, the oyster itself is brought over a discharge opening 79 in the bed plate 3, the said discharge opening being provided upon opposite sides thereof with the upwardly projecting flanges 7 9PL which form continuations of the sides of the wedge 68 and hold the two halves of the shell in a separated position. lt will thus be obvious that as soon as the oyster is completely separated from the shell by the action of the second knife mechanism, it will drop by gravity through the discharge opening 71 and any suitable receptable may be arranged under this opening for the collection of the oysters. If desired, an upwardly projecting finger 80 may be arranged at the end of the discharge opening 71 so as to pass between the two halves of the shell and forcibly withdraw the oyster should it for any reason not drop from the shell as soon as the action of the second knife mechanism has been completed After the oyster has thus been separated from the shell and removed therefrom, the continuous movement of the oyster clamp A produced by the rotation of the plate 13 brings the rollers 25 of the oyster' clamp again into engagement with the cams 27 so as to pull the jaws 14 apart and release the empty oyster shells, the said empty shells dropping through a shell discharging opening 31L which is formed in the bed plate 3.

1t is intended to duplicate the various cams, the oyster opening wedge 68, and the discharge openings on opposite sides of the bed plate 3, so that one oyster will be opened for every half revolution of each of the oyster clamps A.

One operator would be positioned upon each side of the machine, and the two operators would drop the oysters `through the feed openings 50 while the jaws 14 would be held in an open position by engagement of the rollers 25 with the cams 27.

As has been previously mentioned, it is desirable to tilt the jaws 14 at the same time that the oyster shell is opened or forced apart. For this purpose a pair of jaw tilting cams 81 are mounted upon the bed plate 3, the said cams being adapted to engage the rounded heads 26 at the outer ends of the jaws 14. These heads 26 first engage the jaw tilting cams 81 when the pointed end of the wedge 68 enters the lower end of the oyster, the action of the cams 81 gradually increasing so as to force the outer ends of the jaws 14 upwardly and produce a pivotal movement of the jaws corresponding to the opening of the oyster shell. rlhe jaws 14 are Y thus tilted Vso as to accommodate themselves to the opening of the oyster, and the cams 81 are of such a length as to release the jaws as soon as the rollers 25 are brought into engagement with the aw opening cams 27. in this connection, it may be noted that the jaws 14 are connected by the vertical tension springs 83 to the rotating plate 13, the

said springs 83 being considerably weaker than the before mentioned jaw controlling springs 23, although they serve to produce a proper equilibrium so as to admit of the jaws having an easy tilting motion. The upward tilting movement of the jaws is limited by the stops 34 which project downwardly from the plate 3 and terminate a short distance above the jaws when the jaws are in normal position.

Under some conditions it may be found desirable to remove the lower edges of the shell before the oyster is brought into engagement with the wedge (3S, and for this purpose a butl'ing wheel 85 may be mounted upon the base plate 3 so to act upon the edge of the oyster shell and remove the same before the oyster reaches the wedge. Any suitable means may be provided for driving this bin-ring wheel, and it may be mounted in any desired manner.

ln connection with the cam tracks 3G, it may be mentioned that the bed plate 3 is provided with segu'iental slots 86 to receive the intermediate level 36b and lower level 36 thereof. These two levels of the cam track would in most cases be lower than the upper face of the base plate 3, as indicated by dotted lines in F 5, and these levels 36b and 3G of the cam tracks may be suitably supported in any desired manner, as by means of the brackets ST. The other cams namely. the drill cams, punch cams, knife cams, jaw tilting cams, and jaw opening ,ams are all mounted upon the bed plate 3 and may be held rigidly in position in any suitable manner, as by means of the fastening members 88.

ln the ojwration of the machine, the oysters are dropped through the feed openings 50 into the clamps A while the said clamps are held in an open position by the rams QT. A continuous forward movement is imparted to the oyster clamps by the rotation of the plate 13. This forward movement of the clamp moves the same away from the jaw opening` cams 27 so as to release the jaws and cause the same to firmly grip the oyster, and the drills are then thrust into operation by the drill cams 58. As soon as the drills are released the plungers 30 are permitted to drop one step by the passage of the rollers 35 from the upper level 3G to the intermediate level 36h of the cam tracks and the punches simultaneously thrown into action by the punch cams G7. The two halves of the oyster are forced apart by the action of the punches and the oyster brought into engagement with the reduced end of the opening wedge 68. The two knife mechanisms are then brought successively into action for the purpose of cutting or severing the muscle of the oyster from the shell, the wedge 68 at the same time being forced continually between the two halves of the shell and the jaws of the oyster clamp being tilted by the action of the tilting cams 81. The severed oyster drops through the discharge opening' 7 9, and the jaws 14 of the clamp are then released by the action of the jaw opening camv 2T so as to discharge the empty oyster shells through the opening 81u. The operators standing on opposite sides of the machine feed the oysters continually into the oyster clamps as the same are carried around by the revolving plate 13, and the action of opening the oysters is thus continuous and automatic.

A modification is shown in Figs. 13, 14 and 15, in which the drill shaft has a hollow formation and the knife shaft is mounted within the drill shaft. The plunger 30a is similar to the plunger 30 previously described, and the vertical shaft 37 corresponds to the vertical shaft 37. The lower end of this vertical shaft 3Ta is provided with a beveled pinion 90 which meshes with a similar pinion 91. This pinion 91 has a feather and spline connection 92 with the hollow drill shaft 93 which is slidable longit-udinally within the plunger 30a. The end of the drill shaft 93 is provided with a suitable drill 94 for forming an opening in the oyster shell, and the expansible knives 95 are adapted to be thrust through the drill 94 so as to expand within the oyster and operates as in the previous instance to sever the oyster from the shell. T hesc knives 95 are shown in a retracted position by Fig. 13 and in an operative position by Fig. 14. 'Ihe rear ends of the expansiblc knives 95 are secured to the knife shaft 9o which is slidable longitudinally within the tubular drill shaft 93 and has a feather and spline connection 97 therewith. The rear cnd of the knife shaft 9G projects beyond the tubular drill shaft 93 and is surrounded by a coil spring 98, the said coil spring heilig interposed between a collar 99 upon the tubular drill shaft and a collar 100 upon the knife shaft. The spring 9S normally tends to withdraw the plunger 96 and hold the knives 95 in a retracted position. The rear extremity of the knife shaft 96 is provided with a head 101 which engages a cam track 102 to move the shaft in and out as the oyster clamp or carriage is advanced. Upon the inward movement of the r"haft 96, the drill 94 is first brought into engagement with the oyster shell so as to form an opening therein, and the expansible knives 96 are then forced through the drill so as to enter the interior of the oyster and operate to sever the muscle of the oyster from the shell. The operative position of the knives is shown by Fig. 14, and it will be obvious that by simultaneously withdrawing the drill shaft and knives, the said knives u ill serve to engage the oyster shells so as to pull the two halves' thereof apart.

A further modification is shown in Figs. 16 and 17, in which the drill shaft 93il and drill 94a have a hollow construction. as in the previous instance, the punch 103 being mounted within the hollow drill shaft` instead of the eXpansible knives. The punch 103 is shown in a retracted or inoperative position by F ig. 16, and as forced outwardly into an operative position by Fig. 17, and these punches might be connected to punch shafts mounted within the hollow drill shafts, exactly as the knife shafts 9G were mounted within the hollow drill shafts 93, in the modification previously described.

While I have described and claimed this invention as an oyster opening machine, it will be understood that it may be employed in connection with clams or any other bivalves of a similar character, and the word oyster as employed in the claims is intended to cover all of these various uses.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. An oyster opener including` means for forming a hole in one side of the shell at a point spaced from both the edge and the hinge of the shell, and means insertible through the said hole for opening the shell.

2. An oyster opener including a drill for forming a hole in one side of the shell at a point spaced from the edge and hinge thereof, means insertible through the said hole for opening the shell, and an eXpansible knife also insertible through the hole for severing the muscle from the shell.

3. An oyster opener including means for forming a hole in one side of the shell, and a punch insertible through the said hole for engagement with the opposite side -of the shell to force the two sides of the shell apart and open the oyster.

4. An oyster opener including means for forming holes in opposite sides of the shell` and punches insertible through the said shells and adapted to engage opposite sides of the shell to force the shell open.

5. An oyster opener including means for forming holes in opposite sides of the shell, eXpansible knives insertible through the sai/d holes for severing the oyster from the shell, and punches also insertible through the holes, said punches being adapted to engage opposite sides of the shell to open the shell.

6. An oyster opener including means for forming a hole in the shell, a guide nipple adapted to be applied to the hole, a shaft slidable in the guide nipple and formed with an eXpansible spring knife adapted to be inserted through the hole to sever the oyster from the shell, and means for opening the shell.

7. An' oyster opener including means for forming a hole in the shell, a nipple adapted to be seated in the hole, a shaft slidable in the nipple and provided with an expansible knife adapted to be thrust through the nip, ple and hole for severing the oyster from the shell, and means also adapted to be inserted thro-ugh the hole for opening the oyster.

8. An oyster opener including a movable support, an oyster clamp upon the movable support, a drill carried by the movable support, means arranged in the path of the movable support for throwing the drill into operative position to form an opening in the shell, a punch carried by the movable support, means arranged in the path of the movable support for forcing the punch through the opening in the shell previously formed by the drill, wedge means arranged in the path of the support for completing the opening of the shell, and means for re'- moving the oyster from the opened shell.

9. An oyster opener including a movable support, an oyster clamp upon the said support, a drill carried by the support, means actuated by the movement of the support for throwing the drill into operative position and causing it to form an opening in the shell, a knife mechanism carried by the movable support, means actuated by the movements of the support for projecting the knife mechanism through the opening previously formed in the oyster shell and causing it to sever the oyster from the shell, and means for positively opening the shell.

10. An oyster opener including a movable support, an oyster clamp upon the said support, a Ynormally inoperative drill carried by the said support, means actuated by the movements of the support for throwing the drill into operativeposition and causing it to form an opening in the shell, a normally inoperative expansible knife mechanism carried by the support, means actuated by the movements of the support for thrusting the knife mechanism through the previously formed opening in the shell and causing the same to sever the oyster from the shell, a punch carried by the support, and means actuated by the movementsof the support for thrusting the punch through the opening of the shell to forcibly open the shell.

11. An oyster opener including a movable support, an oyster clamp upon the movable support, a drill carried by the movable support, cam means actuated by the movements of the support for causing the drill to form an opening in the shell, a punch carried by the support, cam means actuated by the movements of the support for thrusting the punch through the previously formed opening in the shell to open the oyster, an eX- pansible knife carried by the support, and cam means actua-ted by the movement of the support for thrusting the expansible knife through the previously formed opening in the shell and causing it to sever the oyster from the shell.

l2. An oyster opener including a movable support, an oyster clamp carried by the movable support, a plunger` carried by the movable support, a normally inoperative drill lupon the plunger, a normally inoperative punch upon the plunger, cam means ar ranged in the path of a support for throwing the drill intooperative position and causing it to make an opening in the shell, cam means controlling the plunger and subsequently bringing the punch into alinement with the opening formed by the drill, cam means for thrusting the punch through the opening in the oyster shell to open the shell, and means -for removing the oyster from the shell.

ll. ln oyster opener inclinling ay movablesupport., an oyster clamp upon the support, a plunger carried by the support, a normally inoperative drill upon the plunger, a normally inoperative expansilole knife upon the plunger, cam means for forcing the drill into operative position to form an opening in the oyster shell, cam means controlling the plunger and producing a movement of the same to subsequently bring the expansible knife mechanism opposite the opening previously formed in the oyster shell by the drill, cam means for forcing the expansible knife through the opening of the shell to sever the oyster from the shell, and means for positively opening the shell.

1f-:1-. An oyster opener including a movable support, an oyster clamp upon the support, a plunger carried by the said support, a normally inoperative drill upon the plunger, a normally inoperative punch upon the plunger, a normally inoperative expansible knife upon the plunger, cam means for throwing the drill into operative position to form an opening in the oyster shell, a cam Vtrack formed with different levels to control the plunger and bring the punch and knife mechanism opposite the opening formed by the drill at consecutive intervals of time, cam means for actuating the punch and forcing it through Athe opening of the shell to separate the halves of the shell When the punch is opposite the opening, and cam means for forcing the ex pansible knife through the opening of the shell and causing it to sever the oyster from the shell when the knife is opposite the said opening of the shell.

lo. An oyster opener including a movable support, an oyster clamp upon the said support, a plunger carried by the support, a spring retracted drill upon the plunger, a spring retracted punch upon the plunger, cam means for throwing the drill into operative position and causing it to form an opening in the shell, a ca m track controlling the plunger and producing a movement of the same to bring the punch subsequently opposite the opening previously drilled in the oyster shell, cam means for forcing the punch through the opening of the shell to open the shell, and means for removing the oyster from the opened shell.

16. An oyster opener including a movable support, an oyster clamp upon the sup port, a plunger' carried by the support, a spring retracted drill upon the plunger, a spring retracted expansible knife mechanism upon the plunger, cam means for throwing the drill into operative position and causing it to form an opening' in the oyster shell, a cam track controlling the plungerI and moving the same to bring the knife n'iechanism subsequently (uiposite the opening in the oyster shell previously formed by the drill, cam means for forcing the knife mechanism through the opening of the shell and causing the knife mechanism to sever the oyster from the shell, and means for positively opening the shell.

17. An oyster opener includinga movable support, an oyster clamp carried by the support, a plunger carried by the support, a spring retracted drill upon the plunger, a spring retracted punch upon the plunger, a spring retracted expansible knife upon the plunger, cam means for forcing the drill into operative position and causing it to form an opening in the oyster shell, a cam track controlling the movements of the plunger and formed with different levels which bring the punch and knife mechanism opposite the opening previously formed in the oyster shell by the drill at consecutive intervals of time, cam means for forcing the punch through the opening of the shell and causing it to engage the opposite sideof the shell to forcibly open the shell, cam means for forcing the knife mechanism through the opening of the shell to sever the oyster from the shell, and means for releasing the oyster from the clamp.

18. An oyster opener including a movable support, an oyster clamp upon the support member, means for forcing the ltivo halves of the shell apart, means for severing the oyster from the shell. and a wedge arranged in the path of the oyster to complete the opening of the shell.

19. An oyster opener iuchuling a movable support, an oyster clamp upon the support, means for opening the clamp to release the empty shell and permit a fresh oyster to be fed to the same, means for forcing the tivo halves of the shell apart, a Wedge ar anged in the path of the oyster to complete the opening of the shell, and means for removing the oyster from the opened shell.

20. An oyster opener including a bed plate having a discharge opening therein, a rotary support movable over the bed plate, an oyster clamp carried hy the rotary support, means arranged in the path of the oyster clamp for opening the same to discharge an empty shell and permit a fresh o-yster to be fed thereto, means actuated by the movements of the rotary support for forcing the two halves of the shell apart, a Wedge upon the bed plate for completing the opening of the shell, means for severing the oyster from the shell and causing it to drop through the discharge opening, and meansfor driving the rotary support.

21. An oyster opener including a bed plate, a rotary support movable over the bed plate, an oyster clamp upon the rotary support, a normally inoperative drill carried by the support, a normally inoperative punch carried by the support, a normally inoperative expansible knife mechanism carried by the support, am means for throwing the drill into operative position to form an opening in the oyster shell, cam means for subsequently forcing the punch through the opening of the oyster shell to forcibly open the shell, cam means for subsequently forcing the expansible knife through the opening of the shell for severing the oyster from the shell, and cam means for releasing the clamp to discharge the empty shell and permit a new oyster to be fed thereto.

22. An oyster opener including a bed plate formed With a discharge opening, a rotary support mounted over the bed plate, an oyster clamp carried by the rotary support, a plunger carried by the rotary support, a normally inoperative drill upon the plunger, a normally inoperative punch upon the plunger, a normally inoperative expansible knife mechanism upon the plunger, cam means arranged in the path of the oyster clamp for forcing the drill into o-perative position and causing it to form an opening in the oyster shell, a cam track controlling the plunger and serving to bring the punch and knife mechanism opposite the opening previously formed in the shell by the drill at consecutive intervals of time, cam means for forcing the punch through the opening of the shell to forcibly open the shell, a Wedge upon the bed plate for completing the opening of the shell, cam means for forcing the knife mechanism through the opening of the shell to sever the oyster from the shell and permit it to drop through the discharge opening, means for driving the rotary support, and cam means for releasing the clamp to discharge the empty shell and permit a fresh oyster to be fed to the clamp.

23. An oyster clamp including a bed plate, a movable support, an oyster clamp carried by the movable support and adapted to convey the oyster over the bed plate, burring means upon the bed plate for acting upon the edges of the oyster, means for positively opening the oyster shell, and Wedge means upon the bed plate for completing the opening of the oyster shell.

24. An oyster opener including a bed plate, means for moving the oyster over the bed plate and in substantial contact there- With, burring means upon the bed plate for acting upon the edges of the oyster shell,

means for nositivel oaeninO' the o ster shell, a Wedge member upon the bed plate for completing the opening of the shell, and means for severing the oyster from the shell. In testimony whereof atiix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

CLARENCE D. NEWMAN. lVitnesses t EDW. R. lALToN, Jr., H. S. HILL.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing thek Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

